diff --git a/addons/web/doc/search_view.rst b/addons/web/doc/search_view.rst
index 16a91c5e9ac..12b0eaf3104 100644
--- a/addons/web/doc/search_view.rst
+++ b/addons/web/doc/search_view.rst
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ formatted differently). If an input *may* fetch multiple completion
 items, it *should* prefix those with a section title using its own
 name. This has no technical consequence but is clearer for users.
 
+.. note::
+
+    If a field is :js:func:`invisible
+    <openerp.web.search.Input.visible>`, its completion function will
+    *not* be called.
+
 Providing drawer/supplementary UI
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
@@ -145,6 +151,11 @@ started only once (per view).
           dynamically collects, lays out and renders filters? =>
           exercises drawer thingies
 
+.. note::
+
+    An :js:func:`invisible <openerp.web.search.Input.visible>` input
+    will not be inserted into the drawer.
+
 Converting from facet objects
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js
index 8391f7a8ca5..8422f4e55fe 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js
@@ -499,6 +499,7 @@ instance.web.SearchView = instance.web.Widget.extend(/** @lends instance.web.Sea
      */
     complete_global_search:  function (req, resp) {
         $.when.apply(null, _(this.inputs).chain()
+            .filter(function (input) { return input.visible(); })
             .invoke('complete', req.term)
             .value()).then(function () {
                 resp(_(_(arguments).compact()).flatten(true));
@@ -903,8 +904,8 @@ instance.web.search.Input = instance.web.search.Widget.extend( /** @lends instan
      */
     init: function (view) {
         this._super(view);
+        this.load_attrs({});
         this.view.inputs.push(this);
-        this.style = undefined;
     },
     /**
      * Fetch auto-completion values for the widget.
@@ -952,15 +953,19 @@ instance.web.search.Input = instance.web.search.Widget.extend( /** @lends instan
             "get_domain not implemented for widget " + this.attrs.type);
     },
     load_attrs: function (attrs) {
-        if (attrs.modifiers) {
-            attrs.modifiers = JSON.parse(attrs.modifiers);
-            attrs.invisible = attrs.modifiers.invisible || false;
-            if (attrs.invisible) {
-                this.style = 'display: none;'
-            }
-        }
+        attrs.modifiers = attrs.modifiers ? JSON.parse(attrs.modifiers) : {};
         this.attrs = attrs;
-    }
+    },
+    /**
+     * Returns whether the input is "visible". The default behavior is to
+     * query the ``modifiers.invisible`` flag on the input's description or
+     * view node.
+     *
+     * @returns {Boolean}
+     */
+    visible: function () {
+        return !this.attrs.modifiers.invisible;
+    },
 });
 instance.web.search.FilterGroup = instance.web.search.Input.extend(/** @lends instance.web.search.FilterGroup# */{
     template: 'SearchView.filters',
diff --git a/addons/web/static/test/search.js b/addons/web/static/test/search.js
index 09d135ca203..340784e657d 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/test/search.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/test/search.js
@@ -1158,3 +1158,52 @@ openerp.testing.section('search.advanced', {
     });
     // TODO: UI tests?
 });
+openerp.testing.section('search.invisible', {
+    dependencies: ['web.search'],
+    rpc: 'mock',
+    templates: true,
+}, function (test) {
+    // Invisible fields should not auto-complete
+    test('invisible-no-autocomplete', {asserts: 1}, function (instance, $fix, mock) {
+        instance.web.search.fields.add('test', 'instance.test.TestWidget');
+        instance.test = {
+            TestWidget: instance.web.search.Field.extend({
+                complete: function () {
+                    return $.when([{label: this.attrs.string}]);
+                },
+            }),
+        };
+        var fields = {
+            field0: {type: 'test', string: 'Field 0'},
+            field1: {type: 'test', string: 'Field 1'},
+        };
+        mock('ir.filters:get_filters', function () { return []; });
+        mock('test.model:fields_get', function () { return fields; });
+        mock('test.model:fields_view_get', function () {
+            return {
+                type: 'search',
+                fields: fields,
+                arch: '<search>' +
+                    '<field name="field0"/>' +
+                    '<field name="field1" modifiers="{&quot;invisible&quot;: true}"/>' +
+                '</search>'
+            };
+        });
+        var ds = new instance.web.DataSet(null, 'test.model');
+        var view = new instance.web.SearchView(null, ds, false);
+        return view.appendTo($fix)
+        .then(function () {
+            var done = $.Deferred();
+            view.complete_global_search({term: 'test'}, function (comps) {
+                done.resolve(comps);
+            });
+            return done;
+        }).then(function (completions) {
+            deepEqual(completions, [{label: 'Field 0'}],
+                      "should only complete the visible field");
+        });
+    });
+    // Invisible filters should not appear in the drawer
+    // Invisible filter groups should not appear in the drawer
+    // Group invisibility should be inherited by children
+});